March 17, 2010

1,830 years ago
180

Died on this date
Marcus Aurelius, 58. Emperor of the Roman Empire, 161-180. Marcus Aurelius, a grandnephew of Emperor Hadrian, served as a consul before succeeding his uncle Antoninus Pius on the throne. He conducted several successful military campaigns, but was generally known as a "philosopher king;" his Meditations are a significant source of the modern understanding of ancient Stoic philosophy. Marcus Aurelius was the last of the "Five Good Emperors," and the last during the Pax Romana. He died of natural causes, and was succeeded on the throne by his son Commodus.

970 years ago
1040

Died on this date
Harold "Harefoot", 23 or 24 (?). King of England, 1035-1040. Harold, who was nicknamed for his fleetness of foot, was elected regent following the death of his father Cnut the Great, while his half-brother Harthacnut, the legitimate heir, was in Denmark, facing a threat from invasion by Norway and Sweden. Harold sought coronation in 1035, but wasn't actually crowned until 1037, the same year in which he defeated an attempt by his step-brothers Edward and Alfred to depose him. King Harold died from a severe illness, and Harthacnut finally acceded to the throne.

450 years ago
1560

War
Fort Coligny on Villegagnon Island in Rio de Janeiro was attacked and destroyed during the Portuguese campaign against France Antarctique.

200 years ago
1810

Journalism
Lower Canada Lieutenant Governor Sir James Craig ordered the newspaper Le Canadien closed. Mr. Bédard and his co-owners, MLAs François Blanchet and Jean-Thomas Taschereau, and printer Charles Lefrançois, were also jailed and refused habeas corpus, for allegedly plotting with Americans against Britain. Mr. Bédard was elected to the Lower Canada Assembly 10 days later.

190 years ago
1820

Born on this date
William F. Raynolds. U.S. military officer and explorer. Colonel Raynolds was with the U.S. Army from 1843-1884, serving in the Mexican-American War and American Civil War. He was an engineer who was best known for leading the Raynolds Expedition (1859-1860), an attempt to map the unexplored territory between Fort Pierre, Dakota Territory and the headwaters of the Yellowstone River. Then-Second Lieutenant Raynolds led an expedition to the summit of Pico de Orizaba in Mexico in 1848. He died on October 18, 1894 at the age of 74.

150 years ago
1860

War
The First Taranaki War, a major phase of the New Zealand Wars, began in Taranaki, New Zealand.

140 years ago
1870

Academia
Wellesley Female Seminary (later Wellesley College) received its charter from the Massachusetts legislature.

130 years ago
1880

Born on this date
Lawrence "Titus" Oates. U.K. military officer and explorer. Captain Oates served with the British Army in the Boer War (1899-1902), and later in Ireland, Egypt, and India. He joined Capt. Robert Scott's British Antarctic Expedition (1911-1912), and was entrusted with the care of the expedition's 19 ponies. On the way back from the South Pole, Capt. Oates suffered from severely frostbitten feet, and developed gangrene. Knowing that he wouldn't survive much longer, he deliberately walked out of the tent into a blizzard to his death in not to burden the rest of the expedition. The date of Capt. Oates' death was probably March 16, 1912, the day before his 32nd birthday.

Patrick Hastings. U.K. lawyer politician. Sir Patrick was one of Britain's most successful barristers, who interrupted his legal career to enter politics. As a member of the Labour Party, he represented Wallsend in the House of Commons from 1922-1926, serving as Attorney General for England and Wales from January-November 1924. Sir Patrick's authorization of the prosecution of Communist journalist Johnny Campbell in 1924 for "incitement to mutiny" because of an editorial in the Worker's Weekly led to the downfall of Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald's government. Sir Patrick resigned his seat in 1926 and resumed his legal career; he wrote several plays in his spare time, most of which were unsuccessful. Sir Patrick suffered two strokes in the late 1940s, and died from a cerebral thrombosis on February 26, 1952, 20 days before his 72nd birthday.

100 years ago
1910

Born on this date
Frank de Kova. U.S. actor. Mr. de Kova was a character actor on stage, screen, and television in a career spanning 30 years. He was best known for playing Chief Wild Eagle in the television comedy series F Troop (1965-1967). Mr. de Kova died of heart failure in his sleep on October 15, 1981 at the age of 71.

Sonny Werblin. U.S. entertainment and sports executive. David Werblin began working with Music Corporation of America in 1932, and became president of MCA's television division in 1951. He was known for developing television programs, and managing the programs' stars. Mr. Werblin bought the New York Titans of the American Football League in 1963, renaming them the Jets and changing the team's colours; his share of the Jets was bought out by Jets' management prior to the 1968 season. He built the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and ran it from 1971-1977. Mr. Werblin then served as head of Madison Square Garden and its properties, including the New York Rangers and New York Knickerbockers, from 1978-1984. He died of a heart attack on November 21, 1991 at the age of 81.

Americana
The Camp Fire Girls organization was founded by Mrs. Charles Farnsworth in Thetford, Vermont.

Boxing
Sam Langford (67-7-22-2-2) knocked out Fireman Jim Flynn (50-15-20-1) a minute into the 8th round of a heavyweight bout at Jeffries' Arena in Vernon, California.



75 years ago
1935

On the radio
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, starring Louis Hector and Leigh Lovell, on NBC

70 years ago
1940

On the radio



War
British planes bombed German patrol ships in the Scapa Flow area. The Japanese Army opened a new offensive in the Chinese province of Kwangsi.

Agriculture
A Gallup Poll showed that 66% of U.S. farmers agreed that the policies of the U.S. administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, while 22% disagreed.

60 years ago
1950

World events
The Bolivian government reported the suppression of a revolutionary plot headed by Guillermo Alborta of the right-wing National Revolutionary Movement.

Defense
Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru reaffirmed his country's neutrality in the Cold War, and its determination to defend Nepal against an attack "from anywhere."

The British Foreign Office said that there were "overwhelming" arguments against rearming West Germany , as proposed by Leader of the Opposition Winston Churchill.

The U.S. Atomic Energy Commission announced the development of a $10-$15 radiation meter, which would be put into production for civil defense purposes in 1950.

Politics and government
More than four million of Franklin D. Roosevelt's private and public papers were opened for research at the Roosevelt Library in Hyde Park, New York.

Science
Researchers at the University of California announced the creation in the Berkeley cyclotron of element 98, which they named "californium."

Economics and finance
Italian Prime Minister Alcide de Gasperi introduced an economic reform bill in the Chamber of Deputies, including land redistribution and a 10-year, $2-billion public works program.

Boxing
Willie Pep (147-2-1) retained his world featherweight title with a 15-round unanimous decision over European champion Ray Famechon (59-5) of France at Madison Square Garden in New York.



50 years ago
1960

Hit parade
#1 single in Norway (VG-lista): Marina--Rocco Granata and the International Quintet

#1 single in the U.K. (Record Retailer): Running Bear--Johnny Preston

Defense
U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the National Security Council directive on the anti-Cuban covert action program that ultimately led to the Bay of Pigs Invasion.

40 years ago
1970

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Kvällstoppen): Monia--Peter Holm (6th week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland (Swiss Hitparade): Let it Be--The Beatles (2nd week at #1)

Diplomacy
For the first time in United Nations history, the United States cast a veto, joining Great Britain in rejecting a resolution in the Security Council sponsored by Asian and African members condemning the U.K. for not using force to overthrow the white minority government in Rhodesia.

Abominations
14 officers, including the superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Major General Samuel Koster, were accused by the Army of involvement in suppression of information regarding the massacre of civilians in the South Vietnamese hamlet of My Lai on March 16, 1968. General Koster, who commanded the American division on the day of the massacre, resigned as academy superintendent.

Terrorism
Eastern Airlines Captain Robert Wilbur, Jr. landed his plane at Logan Airport in Boston despite being badly wounded in both arms while his co-pilot, James Hartley, lay dying at his side. A passenger, John Divivo, had forced his way into the cockpit with a gun and attempted to hijack the plane, which had taken off from Newark, New Jersey. Before dying, Mr. Hartley managed to wrest the gun from Mr. Divivo and seriously wound him.

30 years ago
1980

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Crazy Little Thing Called Love--Queen (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Japan (Oricon Singles Chart): Okuru Kotoba--Kaientai (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Video Killed the Radio Star--The Buggles (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Sun of Jamaica--Goombay Dance Band (5th week at #1)

On television tonight
Family, on ABC
Tonight's episode: Such a Fine Line

Terrorism
Fernando Gomez, Uruguay’s ambassador to Colombia, jumped from a second-storey window of the Dominican Republic’s embassy in Colombia in the early morning darkness and escaped to freedom. Mr. Gomez was one of many members of the international diplomatic corps in Bogota who had been held hostage since February 27 when guerrillas from the radical leftist April 19 Movement invaded and took over the embassy.

25 years ago
1985

Hockey
CIAU
Men’s championship final
York 3 Alberta 2

The final Alberta goal was scored with 1 second remaining in the game.

20 years ago
1990

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Australian Music Report): Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor (4th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Vattene Amore--Amedeo Minghi; Mietta

#1 single in Spain (PROMUSICAE): Get Up! (Before the Night is Over)--Technotronic

#1 single in Flanders (Ultratop 50): Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor

#1 single in France (SNEP): Les Valses de Vienne--François Feldman (6th week at #1)

#1 single in the U.K. (CIN): Dub Be Good to Me--Beats International (3rd week at #1)

Netherlands Top 10 (De Nederlandse Top 40)
1 Nothing Compares 2 U--Sinéad O'Connor (5th week at #1)
2 Daar Gaat Ze--Clouseau
3 Sacrifice--Elton John
4 Opposites Attract--Paula Abdul
5 Live Together (New Version)--Lisa Stansfield
6 How am I Supposed to Live Without You--Michael Bolton
7 King Kong Five--Mano Negra
8 Here I Am (Come and Take Me)--UB40
9 I Wish it Would Rain Down--Phil Collins
10 The Healer--John Lee Hooker featuring Carlos Santana & the Santana Band

Singles entering the chart were Fortune Fairytales by Loïs Lane (#25); Advice for the Young at Heart by Tears for Fears (#30); Blue Sky Mine by Midnight Oil (#31); The Power by Snap! (#32); Bakerman by Laid Back (#33); Enjoy the Silence by Depeche Mode (#34); and Rich in Paradise "Going Back to My Roots" by FPI Project featuring Sharon Dee Clarke (#37).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Billboard)
1 Escapade--Janet Jackson (3rd week at #1)
2 Black Velvet--Alannah Myles
3 Roam--The B-52s
4 Love Will Lead You Back--Taylor Dayne
5 Price of Love--Bad English
6 I Go to Extremes--Billy Joel
7 No More Lies--Michel'le
8 I Wish it Would Rain Down--Phil Collins
9 Just a Friend--Biz Markle
10 C'mon and Get My Love--D-Mob introducing Cathy Dennis

Singles entering the chart were What it Takes by Aerosmith (#60); Nothing Compares 2 U by Sinéad O'Connor (#63); Love Child by Sweet Sensation (#69); Hold On by Wilson Phillips (#74); The Humpty Dance by Digital Underground (#81); A Little Love by Corey Hart (#86); 99 Worlds by Peter Wolf (#89); and House of Broken Love by Great White (#97).

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Escapade--Janet Jackson (2nd week at #1)
2 Dangerous--Roxette
3 Roam--The B-52's
4 Price of Love--Bad English
5 We Can't Go Wrong--Cover Girls
6 Opposites Attract--Paula Abdul (with Wild Pair)
7 C'mon and Get My Love--D Mob introducing Cathy Dennis
8 No More Lies--Michel'le
9 I Go to Extremes--Billy Joel
10 Black Velvet--Alannah Myles

Singles entering the chart were The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite) by Quincy Jones featuring Al B. Sure!, James Ingram, El DeBarge and Barry White (#61); A Little Love by Corey Hart (#70); What it Takes by Aerosmith (#73); The Way it Is by Tesla (#75); Bad Love by Eric Clapton (#80); Hide and Seek by Pajama Party (#84); Love Child by Sweet Sensation (#86); and Expression by Salt-N-Pepa (#89).

Canada's Top 10 (RPM)
1 Escapade--Janet Jackson
2 I Wish it Would Rain Down--Phil Collins
3 I Go to Extremes--Billy Joel
4 Opposites Attract--Paula Abdul (with Wild Pair)
5 Dangerous--Roxette
6 No Myth--Michael Penn
7 Roam--The B-52's
8 Too Late to Say Goodbye--Richard Marx
9 Price of Love--Bad English
10 Lover of Mine--Alannah Myles

Singles entering the chart were Lead Me On by Boulevard (#74); How Can We Be Lovers by Michael Bolton (#76); Your Own Sweet Way by Notting Hillbillies (#78); Nothing Compares 2 U by Sinead O'Connor (#81); What it Takes by Aerosmith (#83); Still Water by Daniel Lanois (#86); Bird on a Wire by Tom Cochrane & Red Rider (#88); I'm in the Mood by John Lee Hooker with Bonnie Raitt (#91); and Cuts You Up by Peter Murphy (#93).

Died on this date
Capucine, 62. French model and actress. Capucine, born Germaine Hélène Irène Lefebvre, was a fashion model who became an actress, known for movies such as Song Without End (1960); North to Alaska (1960); Walk on the Wild Side (1962); The Pink Panther (1963); and What's New Pussycat? (1965). After reportedly suffering from illness and depression, she committed suicide by jumping out her eighth-floor apartment window in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Rick Grech, 43. Ukrainian-born U.K. musician. Mr. Grech played bass guitar and violin with the British rock groups Family, Traffic, and Blind Faith in the late 1960s. Drug abuse and heavy drinking derailed his career, and led to his death.

Abominations
Canadian Housing Minister Alan Redway promised compensation to Chinese-Canadians forced to pay over $20 million for admission to Canada. From 1885-1923, Chinese immigrants were forced to pay ahead tax of $50-$500 per person.

Politics and government
The Lithuanian parliament formed a non-Communist government.

Boxing
Julio Cesar Chavez (69-0) scored a technical knockout of Meldrick Taylor (24-1-1) with 2 seconds remaining in their 12-round world super lightweight (junior welterweight) fight at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas to retain the title. Mr. Taylor was knocked down with 16 seconds remaining; he got up at the count of 5, but didn't respond when referee Richard Steele asked him he was all right. If the fight had lasted the remaining 2 seconds, Mr. Taylor would have won a split decision.



Hockey
CIAU
Men's championship final
Moncton 2 Wilfrid Laurier 1

NHL
New Jersey 4 Edmonton 1

10 years ago
2000

Abominations
Paying the price for following a false prophet (see Deuteronomy 18:20-22), an estimated 530 people died in a church fire in Kanungu, Uganda. The deceased were members of the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God, whose leader, Joseph Kibwetere, had erroneously predicted that the world would end on December 31, 1999. Authorities suspected that the incident may have involved murder, as the windows and doors of the church had been locked before the fire began. Within a month after the fire, further investigation found another 444 bodies in various locations.

Business
Canadian National Railways’ plan to merge with the U.S. giant Burlington Northern Santa Fe received a setback when the U.S. government ordered a moratorium on all railway mergers for at least 15 months.

Law
Smith & Wesson, the oldest and largest U.S. handgun manufacturer, agreed to new safety measures in order to end a number of lawsuits. The agreement, negotiated with the administration of President Bill Clinton, settled litigation with 15 cities and the states of New York and Connecticut.

Skiing
Nicolas Fontaine of Canada finished ahead of Joe Pack of the United States and Alexei Grichin of Belorussia to win a freestyle event in Livigno, Italy, becoming the first man to win the World Cup of freestyle skiing for the fourth year in a row. Mr. Fontaine finished ahead of Mr. Grichin in the standings to win the Crystal Globe, given to the overall champion for the season.